Trolley wire hanger



Sept. 4, 1934. c. 1.. GREER TROLLEY WIRE HANGER Original Filed May 13, 1927 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 Commodore L. Greer, League City, Tex. Application May 13, 1927, Serial No; 191,047

Renewed February 16, 1931 12 Claims. (01. 191-40) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a trolley wire hanger.

One object of the invention is to providea' hanger of, the character described specially designed for the purpose of supporting a trolley wire from the messenger wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger whichis flexible, or yieldable to allow the trolley wire to be elevated relative to the messenger wire without damage to the latter, or to the hanger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger which will give the maximum of clearance for the passage of the current collector, or trolley wheel along the trolley wire without damage from arcing of the current to the trolley wire or current collector. a i I A still further object of the invention-is to provide a hanger of the character described which is specially adapted for use in maintaining both the messenger wire and the trolley wire approximately above the central line of a. curved railway track, said hanger for this purpose being provided with means for the attachment of suitable anchor wires, or guy wires thereto.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a hanger so constructed and attached to the supporting messenger wire that the adjacent hangers will hold the parted ends of either wire in case of breakage so that said parted ends may be readily reunited.

In the equipment of .electricalrailways the messenger wire supporting the trolley wire is strung from pole to pole over the track and sags between the supporting poles and the. trolley wire is suspended from it by hangers. Itis desirable that the trolley wire be held against sagging so that it will be comparatively straight and the hangers mounted midway between the poles are shorter than those nearer. the poles,

the relative lengths of the hangersbeing. such that the trolley wire will beheld in positionnot to sag. As the current collector, which may be .a trolley wheel, or sliding shoe, passes along underneath-the trolley wire this wire willbe somewhat elevated and it is common practice toprovide hangers which. are rigid and fastened to the trolley wire with their upper ends provided with elongated loops to receive theu messenger wire so that as the current collector passes along the trolley wire the hangers will be permitted tomove upwardly .with the trolleywire. This type of hanger is objectionable forthe reason that the friction between the hanger loop and themessenger wire soon wears away the galvanize'dor other coating on the messenger wire and permits corrosion and weakening thereof, as

well as disintegration thereof due-to the passage of the electric current between the trolley wire and the messenger wire on accountof the poor contact between the two wires made by the loose loops of the hangers. It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a flexible or yieldable type ofhanger which'will support the trolley wire and permit said movement thereof without injury to the'supporting messenger wire. 7

In electrical railway-operation it is desirable that the current collector may pass along the trolley wire without meeting with any obstruction to the free passage of the current collector. Forthis reasonthat part of the hanger which grips and holds the trolley'wire should be as the largest I near 'the thickness as possible of diameter of the trolley wire. This allows the current collector to pass freely along thetrolley wire without striking that part of which "grips and holds the trolley the hanger wire, even without discarding the entire hanger affected I he present invention comprehends a hanger of such construction that worn or damaged parts thereof may be renewed without discarding the parts'which may not be worn or damaged.

' With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, anexample of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

'Figure 1 shows an end view of the hanger. Figure 2 showsa side elevation thereof. =-Figure 3 shows a sideelevation wherein is embodied a modified form of connecting tween the wire clamps.

7 link be- Figure 4 shows an end view of a modified form ofxthe trolley wire clamp.

Figure'fishows aside elevation thereof.

1 Figurefi shows a vertical sectional onithe line -66 .of Figure 5.

Figure '7 shows a vertical sectional on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure'8 shows anend view of the view taken view taken connecting bracket employed, shown in its relation to the trolley wire, and Figure 9 shows a side elevation thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates a messenger, or supporting wire and the numeral 2 designates the trolley wire. The messenger wire clamp 3 consists of two identical complemental jaws having the registering grooves l, 4 forming a bearing for the messenger wire 1. Each jaw is formed with a flange 5, be

neath said bearing through which theclamp bolt,

as 6 is fitted, said bolt having a suitable head on one end with its other end threaded to receive the usual nut by means of which the parts of the clamp 3 are secured together. The messenger wire clamp will usually be secured tightly-onthe messenger wire but in some cases it may be desirable for the clamp to have a loose fit to permit adjustment. The upper link '7 of the flexible suspending member 8 has its upper end fitted between the flanges 5 with the bolt 6 passing through said link and forming a secure attachment for the suspending member to the messenger wire clamp.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the suspending member 8 is rigid with the upper end loop 7 fitted between thefianges 5 and through which the bolt 6 passes.

A preferred form of the trolley wire clamp consists of two confronting jaws 9,9. A bolt 10 passes through these jaws, one end of which is provided with the usual head and the other end of which is outwardly. threaded to receive the usual nut, as shown, by means of which the jaws 9 are clamped together. The lower end link 11 of the flexible suspending member 8 is fitted between the jaws 9 and the clamp bolt 10 passes through it to securely anchor the trolley wire clamp to said suspending member. The suspending member 8 being flexible will permit the necessary vertical movement of the trolley wire as the current collector passes along under it.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the rigid suspending member 8 has the lower end loop 11 fitted between the jaws 9 and through whichthe clamp bolt 10 extends. The loop 11' being elongated will permit a certain amount of-vertical movement of the jaws 9 relative to the connecting member 8' so as to permit the trolley wire to have the required amount of vertical movement as the current collector passes along it. This particular form of hanger shown in Figure 3 is specially adapted for use in'cases where there is a tendency for the trolley wire to become twisted thus carrying the groove on one side upwardly and the groove on the other side downwardly with the result that if a flexible connecting element were used the trolley wire clamp would turn to one side within the range of the current collector. In such case a rigid connecting member 8 will hold the trolley wire against turning or twisting and at the same time will permit a certainamount of vertical movement of the trolley wire clamp as above explained. Each side of the trolley wire has a lengthwise groove 12 and' the lower end of each jaw 9 has an inwardly pro- Each jaw 9, near its upper. end, has an inside notch 14 and on its opposite side has an inside tooth 15, the tooth 15 of each jaw registering with and fitting into the opposing notch 14 of the other jaw when said jaws are assembled into a complete clamp. The jaws are thus held in proper alignment during installation.

In the form shown in Figures 4 to 9 inclusive a modified form of trolley wire clamp is shown in combination with a trolley "wire bracket. This modified construction is desirable where maximum clearance between the current collector and that part of the hanger that grips and holds the trolley wire is important as in cases where the current collector consists of a trolley wheel or sliding shoe. The trolley wire bracket consists of an arcuate part 16, which fits over the top side of the trolley wire and whose margins are formed with the inside lengthwise beads 17 adapted to be pressed into the side grooves 12 of the trolley wire, as shown in Figure 4. The semicircular part 16 has a longitudinal upstanding web 18 which has the transverse mortises 19 therethrough and the-lower ends or" each jaw 9, of thisform, has an inside transversely disposed tenon 20, the tenons of said jaws fitting through the respective mortises 19 when the parts are assembled and said jaws are clamped in assembled relation by means of the suitable clamp bolt 10' passing through. them as hereinabove described, said clamp bolt also passing through the lower link 11 of the flexible suspending member 8, or 8"as the case may be.

At curves of a railway track it is evident that the messenger wire, as well as the trolley wire must substantially follow the central line of the track. At the present time a special type of hanger is used at curves for maintaining the messenger and trolley wires in proper position but these hangers, as now used, are rigid allowing no flexibility between the trolley wire and 115 messenger wire; In the form of hanger herein described the heads of the bolts 6 may be provided .with eyes,. as 21, to. which suitable guy wires or. cables may be attached at one end and the other ends of the cables fastened to suitable fixed anchors in such manner that the messenger wire and trolley wire will be held in proper relation to the track and at the same time the hangers retain therequired amount of flexibility needed.

It will be evident to one skilled in the art that the invention herein disclosed will permit all necessary freedom of movement of. the trolley wire relative to the messenger wire, as the current collector passesunderneath the trolley wire and that if. either wire should break the ends will still be held near together so that they may be readily reunited. Itwill also be evident that the invention provides an economicalhanger by reason of the fact that the parts are. interchangeable so that adamaged part may be replaced without discarding the undamaged or unworn parts of the hanger. i

WhatIclaimis: f l

1. In a trolleywir'e hangena bracket adapted 140 to be connected to the trolley wire and having a single integral upstandingweb which is provided with a-transverse opening, a .clamp having op posing jaws, means securing said jaws together,

a projection carried by one of the jaws adapted 145 to project through said opening Wh'en'the jaws are in ,assembled'relation;

' v 2. Ina trolley wire hanger, aibracket adapted to clamp the upper side ofthetrolley wire, a singlex'upstanding web integral with said bracket 150 ing means comprising a web integral .with the holder and having an opening and a projection carried by the clamp and fitted through said opening,

4. A hanger including an upper clamp, a holder adapted to be connected to a trolley wire, a lower clamp formed of confronting jaws, means securing said jaws together, interengaging means carried by said lower clamp and holder respectively connecting said lower clamp with said holder, said interengaging means comprising a web integral with the holder and having an opening and a projection carried by the clamp and fitted through said opening, a connecting member at- 'taohed at its upper end to said upper clamp and whose lower end is fitted between the jaws of the lower clamp and through which said securing means passes. a r

5. A hanger including an upper clamp, a holder adapted to be secured to a' trolley wire, a lower clamp formed of confronting jaws, means securing said jaws together, interengaging means carried by the lower clamp and the holder respectively and connecting them together, said interengaging means comprising a'web integral with the holder and having an opening and a projection carried by the clamp and fitted through said opening, a connecting member whose upper end is connected to the upper clamp and whose lower end is connected to the lower clamp.

6. A hanger including an upper clamp, a holder adapted to be attached to a trolley wire having an upstanding integral web, a lower clamp, means integral with said lower clamp and projecting through the web of said holder by which they may be fastened together and a flexible connecting member whose ends are connected to the upper clamp and lower clamp respectively.

7. A hanger including means for attaching its upper end to a messenger 'wire, a holder adapted to be attached to a trolley wire, a clamp having independent jaws, means for attaching the holder to the clamp and by which said holder may be readily released from said clamp,

said means comprising a web integral with the holder and fitted between the jaws, said web 7 and jaws being provided,one with an opening and the other with a projection which fits through said opening.

8. A hanger including means for attaching its upper end to a messenger wire, a holder adapted to be attached to a trolley wire, a clamp having jaws, releasable means for attaching the holder to the clamp, said means comprising a web upstanding from the holder and fitted betweenthe jaws, said web and jawsbeing provided one with a projection and the other with a bearing to receive said projection.

9. A hanger including a trolley wire clamp, and a messenger wire clamp, each clamp being formed of independent, confronting jaws, a chain forming a connecting member and having an upper link clamped between the jaws of the messenger wire clamp, andhaving a lower link clamped between the jaws of a trolley wire clamp, a projection on one jaw of the trolley wire clamp which projects toward the other jaw of said trolley wire clamp'and is positioned to engage an'object between the jaws of the trolleywire clamp.

10. A hanger including a. trolley wire clamp.

and a messenger wire clamp, each clamp being formed of independent confronting jaws, an upper' link clamped rigidly between the jaws of the messenger wire clamp and a lower link clamped rigidly between the jaws of the trolley of the lower clamp adapted to project into an,

opening in an object engaged by said lower clamp.

12. A hanger including a messenger Wire clamp and a lower clamp, each clampbeing formed of independent confronting jaws, means securing said jaws together, a connecting member composed of chain links, the upper link of which is clamped between the jaws of the messenger wire clamp and thelower link of which is clamped between the jaws of the lower clamp,

a trolley wire holderbetween the jaws of the lower clamp and having a bearing and a projection on one jaw of the lower clamp which projects into said bearing.

COMMODORE L. GREER. 

